Support for dental face-bows.



P. H. BROWN.

SUPPORT FOR DENTAL PAGE BOWS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.1, 1913.

1,085,535, Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

ETED STAES PA ENT OFFICE.

FREDERIG H. BROWN, OF LEBANON, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

SUPPORT FOR DENTAL FACE-BOWS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERIO H. BROWN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lebanon, in the county of Grafton and State of NewHampshire, have invented new and useful Improvements in Supports forDental Face-Bows, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to supports for dental face bows, and its objectsare to sup port mechanically the ends of the face bow at the heads ofthe condyles, torender such supports capable of ready adjustment, and ingeneral to render the use of the face bow more economical, and efficientand uniform in results.

My invention primarily consists in constructing a frame shaped to befirmly attached to the human head or portions thereof such as the earsand nose and in suspending therefrom over the head of each condyle orpivotal point of the jaw, a plate provided with pivotal means for theattachment of one of the pointers of the face bow.

My invention further consists in other improved features andmodifications illustrated in the drawing or more particularlyhereinafter pointed out and claimed.

At the present time, as is well known in the art, mechanical meanscommonly called anatomical articulators are generally used inconstructing artificial dentures. The better types of these articulatorsare formed to imitate mechanically all the essential changes in positionof the human jaw when engaged in the mastication of food, and are madeadjustable to conform to each inclividual case. To achieve anythingapproaching accurate results, however, even with such improved typeslong training and great skill are required to make proper adjustments;and in order to insure such accuracy face bows are employed to determinethe points of movement of the jaw in relation to the oecusal plane, andto mount upon the articulator the trial plates and models used for theparticular patient.

As commonly constructed, a face bow is a metallic bar curved to conformroughly to contour of the human face, and having at each end a slidingpointer which is made adjustable by means of a clamping nut. Normallythe central part of a face bow when in operative position is immediatelyin front of the mouth where it is provided Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed August 1,

Patented J an. 2'7, 1914.

1913. Serial No. 782,465.

with a swivel clamp constructed to engage with the stem of a mouth pieceseated in the labial surface of the upper trial plate.

In attaching the face bow the mouth piece is properly affixed, and thepointers are firmly pressed down upon the heads of the 'condyles of thehuman jaw, the location of which have been exactly determined andpreviously marked upon the skin directly over the same. This beingaccomplished, as well as circumstances will permit, the clamping nutsare secured, and the swivel clamp locked into position. No other meansis provided for suspending the pointers except that in some .cases asliding rod adapted to enter the external opening of the ear is providedto steady the device.

In practice considerable difliculties have been experienced ineffectually placing and thereafter keeping in position the face bowabove described. The pressure necessary to install the pointers in placeis somewhat painful to the patient, the skin over the condyles is looseand flexible and liable to change its position, and the slightestmovement of the patient or the handling of the bow by the operator islikely to dislodge to some extent the ends of the pointers, all of whichrender it diflicult if not impossible to secure perfect results. Anymisplacement of the pointers is multiplied at the central portion of thebow, and such error is repeated when the bow is removed from the patientand mounted upon the articulator thereby rendering it very difficult todetermine with accuracy the condyle paths, and the establishment of theoecusal plane.

In order to guard to some extent against the insecurity of the face bowin common use, it is the usual practice for the operative to use onehand constantly to assist in holding the bow in place, thus leaving himwith but one hand free to make the necessary and proper adjustments, andnecessitating the taking of his observations while in a crampedposition. With my device, however, accurate results are the rule; thereis no painful pressure upon the condyles of the patient, the ends of thepointers are accurately placed and securely held by mechanical means,both hands of the operative are freed from the work, and there is nodanger of dislodgment even in the hands of an inexperienced operative.

Attention is hereby directed to the drawing in which similar numerals ofdesignation refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention showing the face bowattached thereto in position for use upon the patient. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the right temple piece and the nose piece of my invention.Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the nose piece. Fig.

4 is a vertical section on line H of Fig. 1..

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2 looking in thedirection of the arrow. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the slide inthe temple piece and adjusting mechanism.

Referring to the drawing; I preferably construct my support of a nosepiece 7 and two temple pieces 8, of which only one is shown. The nosepiece 7 is made of metal or other similar material and is shaped to restfirmly upon the upper part of the nose and curve downwardly so as not tooffer any obstruction to vision. To each ofthe ends 9, 9, thereof ispivotally connected an adjustable slide 10 which is secured to one endof the temple piece 8. The slide 10 is constructed of an elongated box11 provided with longitudinal grooves 12 for the reception of the rod 13carrying at its extremity the gear wheel 14:. The teeth of the saidwheel are shaped to engage with the corrugations 15, and are made torotate by means of the adjusting pin 16 the shank 17 of which passesthrough one of said grooves 12, and is secured to the center of thewheel 14. To the outer end of said shank 17 is connected the plate 18sliding in the groove 12. See Figs. 5 and 6. By turning the pin the rod13 may be made to assume various positions in the box 11, therebyshortening or lengthening the temple piece as desired to fit therequirements of the patient. The inner end 19 of said temple piece iscurved in the same manner as the corresponding portion of a pair ofspectacles in order to effect a firm engagement with the ear.

From the rod 13 of the temple piece 8, is suspended the disk 20 upon thearm 21 which is formed with the slot 22 therein. In the center of saiddisk is the opening 23, which is covered by one end of the strip 24:,the other end of said strip being pivoted at the point 25. Upon theouter face of the strip 24: at the lower portion thereof is the stud 26.If desired the inner surface of the disk 20 may be furnished with alining of felt or chamois 31. The thumb screw 32 serves to keep the arm21 in proper engagement with the rod 13.

The above description of the construction of the right temple pieceapplies alike to the left temple iece. As illustrated in the drawing thestuds 26 are directly over the condyles of the head there shown, and arewhich the thumb screws 32 are loosened and the disks 20 moved in suchposition that the pencil marks over the condyles will appear through theopenings 23. Each thumb screw 32 is then tightened and the studs 26moved into position over the openings 23, and thereupon the ends of theface bow 28 suspended therefrom. It will then be obvious that once thestuds 26 are locked in proper position over the condyles of the patient,there is but little danger of said studs being dislodged, or of the endsof the face bow working out of place ashas heretofore often been thecase.

Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

1. A support for a dental face bow, con sisting of a frame, means forsecuring the same to the human nose and ears, downwardly depending armsadjustably aflixed to said frame and positioned to extend over thecondyles of the jaw, and means for piv' otally suspending from said armsthe ends of a face how.

2. A support for a dental face bow, con sisting of a frame composed of anose piece two temple pieces and ear attachments, a

downwardly depending arm adjustably affixed to each temple piece aportion of each arm being positioned to extend over one of the condylesof the jaw, and means for pivotally suspending from said arm portionsthe ends of the face bow.

3. A support for a dental face bow, consisting of a frame composed of anose piece, two adjustable temple pieces and ear attachments, adownwardly depending arm adjustably affixed to each temple piece, a diskat the lower end of each arm provided with a hole in the center thereof,a strip pivotally supported upon each disk and adapted to be moved tocover the said hole, and a stud secured to each of said strips andadapted to suspend. therefrom one of the ends of the face bow.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses, this 30th day of July 1913.

' FREDERIG H. BROWN.

Vitnesses:

' F. H. HosroRD,

M. F. TARBELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of lt'atentis Washington, D. G.

